Illinois group leads ‘Death of Illinois’ event

SPRINGFIELD — An Illinois-based grassroots group’s affiliate organizations and their leaders will hold an old fashioned funeral procession and memorial to recognize what they describe as the “Death of Illinois” public education system, services for people with disabilities, seniors, children and families.

The organizations include United Congregations of Metro East, Faith Coalition for the Common Good – Springfield, Gamaliel of Metro Chicago and Quad Cities Interfaith, all of which say the education system and services for the mentioned demographics have “suffered and died” due to Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Illinois Legislature’s refusal to work together to pass a state budget.

The “Death of Illinois” event will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 1, in front of the Governor’s Mansion, 410 E. Jackson St., Springfield.

Gamaliel of Illinois is a faith-based grassroots, statewide organization that works to develop people to become powerful leaders to work on finding solutions for their issues and to fight for positive systematic change, according to a news release.

Over the past year, Illinois social services has experienced funding losses due to the state’s budget impasse. As a result, Gamaliel of Illinois and its affiliated organization’s leaders say people are suffering because life-saving programs have ceased.

Speakers at the event will include clergy and religious leaders from Springfield, Chicago, the Quad Cities and East St. Louis, with 200 Gamaliel leaders from across the state planned to attend.